John Givens

With more than five decades of experience in the commercial construction industry, John Givens brings unmatched expertise, leadership, and perspective to his role as Director of Operations and Quality Control at Citadel Construction. John began his career with H.A. Lott Construction as the Vertical Rise Superintendent for the Kerr McGee Center in Oklahoma City from 1969 to 1971. After completing the project, he returned to his hometown of Lubbock, Texas, where he worked with Page and Wirtz Construction on the Civic Center project while attending Texas Tech University. In 1973, during a carpenter union strike, John transitioned to non-union work for greater stability, joining Turner Construction as a Superintendent. After a brief tenure in Houston with Brown and Root Construction as a Surveyor, he completed his training in 1976 and returned to Lubbock as Project Superintendent for Turner Construction. John joined Lee Lewis Construction in 1978, where he would spend the next 46 years growing his career—from Project Superintendent to Senior Superintendent, Project Manager, and eventually Senior Vice President and Director of Operations, a position he held for 31 years. During that time, he oversaw many of West Texas’s most notable projects, including landmark facilities for Texas Tech University, Lubbock Christian University, and Angelo State University. In November 2024, John brought his extensive experience and passion for quality to Citadel Construction, where he plays a key role in guiding operations, mentoring field teams, and ensuring every project meets the company’s high standards. His leadership continues to shape Citadel’s reputation as one of the fastest-growing and most respected construction firms in West Texas.